Missing in action Black Sox targeted

IAIN MCGREGOR/The Press

Canterbury v Wellington in the Fastpitch Championships.

Relevant offers

Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase has repeated his call for softball's elite to play in the National Fastpitch Championships after just four of his 17-man world championship squad turned out this week in Christchurch.

Kohlhase, in Christchurch for the final day of the four-day National Fastpitch Championships (NFC), said it was Softball New Zealand (SNZ) policy for players aspiring to Black Sox selection to play in the NFC.

Wellington player-coach Thomas Makea, Canterbury pair Gareth Cook and Stephen Ratu and recently retired Black Sox pitcher Marty Grant (Southern Pride) were the Black Sox's sole representatives in Christchurch.

Black Sox great Mark Sorenson expressed his disappointment at the defections last month, saying his former team-mates should "harden up" and play in front of the New Zealand softball public.

Auckland outfielder Donny Hale, 34, was among this week's absentees, although he was at the tournament throughout to support his partner, Sina Hunkin, a White Sox outfielder playing for Wellington.

Hale admitted he had a few spectators express their disappointment to him about the Black Sox giving the tournament a wide berth.

"They were just giving their opinion, but for me, I just need a break," Hale said.

"They are entitled to their own opinion like everyone else, but they don't have all the facts," he said.

Hale said he still intended to play through to the 2013 world championships in Auckland.

However, he had been playing provincial softball for "16 to 17 years" and, as he got older, had come to treasure the Christmas period as family time.

"It was just a case for me of wanting to have a break and to watch my partner play."

Hale, who was player-coach as Auckland won three national league titles, expected to play in the NFC next year.

He believed the "core group" from the Black Sox would be back for the 2013 world championships because "the hurt of losing" their world title to Australia was still keenly felt.

Kohlhase was unable to influence the players' choice to skip the NFC because his reappointment had not been confirmed before the tournament squads were announced.

He said there had "always been an issue", dating back "to the 60s and 70s" with players not playing at the national championships in world series year.

However, it was SNZ policy that players should turn out "in our pinnacle [domestic season] event" to be eligible for national selection.

Kohlhase said the 2013 world championships were "not too far away" and "guys will have to understand the requirements for selection".

- © Fairfax NZ News